This post is sponsored by Jennifer Ussi. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
MY REVIEW
The Incredible Adventures of Casper: The Cat Who Got Lost in Africa, Book 1: The Pangolins begins with a small mistake; a nap in a stranger’s car. It carries a house cat far from everything she knows.
Casper, a small black city cat with one green eye and one brown like polished mud, wakes to find herself lost in the African wild. She meets Junior, a baby pangolin who quickly becomes her first real friend in the story. Together they venture through danger and dust, past foxes, owls, poachers’ traps, and the eerie silence of night. What they discover is not only survival but a strange kind of bravery disguised as care: the courage to protect, to stay, to love what could be lost.
Jennifer Ussi writes with that curious tenderness that hides a tremor beneath it. Her sentences move quietly, but the land itself seems to pulse through them, a reminder that every living thing is listening. Lekshmi Bose’s illustrations echo this quiet—animals caught mid-breath, a paw hovering, a rustle that might be the wind or a warning.
The Pangolins is more than a story of a lost cat; it is a study in small mercies. It leaves behind the echo of wild spaces and the fragile thread that binds one life to another. By the end, Casper has found something like home, not a place but the creatures she dares to protect. The Pangolins is less about getting home than about what home becomes. It is about courage found in small bodies, kindness born of fear, and the curious calm that settles when the wild begins to trust you.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for the chance to win one of 10 paperback copies of The Pangolins, the first book in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa. One grand prize winner will also receive a complete paperback set of the first four books in the series, perfect for young animal-lovers and chapter-book readers.
The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa, Book 1: The Pangolins: Book GiveawayABOUT THE BOOK
The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: Book 1: The Pangolins
Written by Jennifer Ussi
Illustrated by Lekshmi Bose
Ages: 6-10 | 56 Pages
Publisher: Little Boola Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-1-923356-01-6
Publisher’s Book Summary: Book 1 in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa introduces Casper, a curious, city-smart cat who suddenly finds herself lost in the wild African bush, far from everything she’s ever known.
Terrified of the bugs, the dark, and the strange sounds all around her, Casper is sure the wilderness is no place for a little cat like her until she meets a shy, scale-covered creature called a pangolin. As she learns to see the world through new eyes, Casper discovers the power of trust, the meaning of courage, and why protecting vulnerable creatures like pangolins matters more than she ever imagined.
Perfect for readers ages 5–10, The Pangolins is a beautifully illustrated chapter book filled with:
- A fun, heartwarming animal adventure
- Gentle themes of friendship, bravery, and conservation
- Fascinating facts about pangolins woven into the story
Written by award-winning filmmaker Jennifer Ussi and illustrated by Lekshmi Bose, this 5,000-word debut in the Casper series brings the magic of African wildlife to life while inspiring young readers to be curious, compassionate, and kind.
PURCHASE LINK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Ussi is an award-winning filmmaker, educator, and storyteller, traveling Africa in her ancient campervan with her husband, her camera, and an insatiable appetite for telling stories. Inspired by Africa’s wildlife and countless stories of wandering cats, she created The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa, a children’s book series blending humour, adventure, and, especially, wildlife conservation. Jennifer’s work reflects her passion for wildlife, storytelling, and inspiring young readers to care about conservation.
Discover more from the author at www.littleboolabooks.com.
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